The invasion of Europe starts Monday at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The line of departure is the Kaiserslautern community’s PowerZone, which will host a launch party for “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” starting at 8 p.m., said Robin Boylan, the sales and merchandise manager who oversees the store. Copies of the video game – available for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 – will then go on sale at midnight.

The first-person shooter developed by Infinity Ward for Activision is one of the year’s most anticipated titles, and analysts expect stores to sell millions of copies Tuesday, its first day of availability. In addition to intense online battles, the latest edition of the game promises a story line that depicts fighting in Germany, France, England and other sites around the globe.

Midnight launch parties in the States can draw scores – or even hundreds – of fans eager to pick up the game early and to participate in the hoopla. Boylan said the Ramstein launch event will feature a multiplayer tournament and specially made “MW3” coins.

In advance of the event, the PowerZone is taking pre-orders for the game, common in the States but unusual for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Boylan said.

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